- BMW is adding a performance model to the X1 lineup for 2024.
- It’s called the M35i and it has a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with 312 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque.
- The 2024 X1 M35i goes on sale in October and starts at $50,895.
BMW is turning the wick on the X1 small crossover with a new M35i performance model for 2024. While it’s not a full X1 M, this treatment includes more than just an M badge and brings a more powerful engine, upgraded brakes, standard adaptive dampers, and add-ons sporty exterior.
This marks the first time BMW has offered a sportier version of the X1 in the US, as the previous M35i model was only reserved for the sloped-roof X2. The X1 has been redesigned for 2023, but we haven’t heard anything yet about the new X2, so offering an M version of the X1 could suggest that the X2 spinoff won’t return to our shores for another generation.
Standard equipment on the 2024 X1 M35i is a higher-output version of the xDrive28i model’s turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four. It runs the same Miller cycle as the standard engine but produces more power: 312 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 71 hp. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard, and the M35i also gets a limited-slip differential. Adaptive dampers are standard equipment, and BMW’s M compound brakes are optional.
BMW claims that the X1 M35i will sprint to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, but we think that claim is conservative. The base 241-hp X1 achieved a 5.4-second result in our test, and the previous 302-hp X2 M35i sprinted to that mark in 4.5 seconds, so we’re confident the new model will easily glide by in under 5.0 seconds. It also has a top speed of 155 mph.
The four exhaust tips are said to add some aural drama to the turbo-four’s soundtrack and also contribute to the aggressive look of the M35i. It also gets different side skirts, larger air ducts up front, a rear diffuser, and, of course, lots of M logos. 19-inch wheels with all-season tires are standard, but 20-inch wheels with summer rubber are optional.
Inside, the M model has faux suede trim, blue stitching and optional sports seats. BMW has also upgraded the X1’s iDrive infotainment to run the latest Operating System 9 software. These changes will apply to all 2024 X1 models, not just the M35i, and are said to reduce complexity by offering more shortcuts and more organized menus.
BMW has priced the M35i starting at $50,895, and that will increase significantly with additional optional packages such as various driver assistance packages, the M Sport Professional package and the Premium package. The X1 M35i is scheduled to arrive at US dealerships starting in October 2023.
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Despite growing up on a steady diet of Honda and Toyota base models—or maybe because of it—Joey Capparella cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been a part of Car and Driver team since 2016 and currently resides in New York City.